Written Answers Nos. 169-190
169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify whether at any point over the past ten years the SSL certificates for his Department’s websites expired for a period of time; if so, the reason this occurred; and the duration they remained expired. [33273/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is fully committed to ensuring the security and authenticity of its web services. SSL certificates are digital certificates that authenticate a website's identity and enable an encrypted connection. They are applied to websites to assure the public of the authenticity of Department of Foreign Affairs web pages.
In the past ten years, there has been no instance of expiration of SSL certificates on the Department's websites. Robust systems are in place for the management of SSL certificates as part of our overall Digital Transformation Strategy.
170. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in a position to sanction an increase in An Post pensions which have been signed off by the Trustees. [33421/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 9 March 2023 An Post wrote to my Department seeking consent to the second phase of their current pay agreement which provides for a 2% increase in pay from 1st January 2023. In addition to this, on foot of a recent Labour Court decision, An Post also wrote to my Department on 9 March seeking approval to make increases to pensions in payment and deferred pensions of a 5% increase from 1 January 2022 and a 1% increase from 1 July 2023.
In accordance with the relevant Code of Practice from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, An Post must seek Ministerial approval to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. As per Circular 16/2021, all such proposals require NewERA’s views, as well as a business case setting out the strategic, policy and financial rationale for the proposed increase. Circular 16/2021 states that pension approval requests should be submitted for approval well in advance of any decision to implement changes in acknowledgement of the necessary processes that must be completed and in order to ensure that pension increases are not unduly delayed. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.
Following receipt of the requests and associated documentation in recent weeks and months from An Post, the standard process is now being followed, with NewERA’s views and assessment by officials being required prior to the consent of both Ministers being sought.
Consideration of the consent requests is well advanced and a report from NewERA was submitted on 29 June. The two Shareholding Departments will now expedite consideration of the matter. It is not possible, at this point, to set out the specific timeframe within which the decision-making process will be concluded.
171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to promote the use of HVO as a diesel alternative. [33259/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a bioliquid which can be used as a renewable energy, and which in a transport context, is classified as a biofuel.
The Climate Action Plan 2023 includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuel in heating systems in building. The National Heat Study contains the detailed analysis that is informing the development of options, policies, and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050. The Study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. This included the use of liquid biofuels, solid biomass, biogases, and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks.
The recommendation of the Heat Study is that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also being a competitive option that can be widely deployed. Therefore, no steps are being taken at this time to promote the use of HVO in the heat sector.
Supporting the supply of renewable energy in transport, the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy sets out the pathway to incentivise supply of renewable transport fuel through annual increases in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) rate to 2030 and the achievement of both Climate Action Plan targets and European obligations concerning sustainability and GHG reduction criteria. The Minister for Transport published the updated Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2025 on 28 June 2023. The updated policy continues to provide a framework for ongoing consultation, analysis and review towards meeting targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023 and European obligations for renewable energy supply for use in transport. The renewable transport fuel policy is reviewed every two years.
The policy since 2010 has been to increase renewable energy in transport by pursuing progressive increases in the renewable transport fuel supply obligation (RTFO) on fuel suppliers, as provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007.
The trajectory of annual RTFO rate increases to 2030 as set out in the policy is designed to achieve the CAP target of an E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel) equivalent. This is to achieve 1.08MT CO2eq carbon reduction by 2030, representing a significant portion (almost 14%) of the planned transport sector decarbonisation by 2030.
The supply of HVO in transport, among other renewable fuels, will be critical in ensuring the 2030 Climate Action Plan target is met. A Biofuels Study Report conducted on behalf of the Department of Transport in 2022 estimated that between 570-730m litres of biodiesel/HVO could be required to meet the Climate Action Plan transport targets by 2030.
Additionally, the Minister for Transport made regulations in under section 44G of the 2007 Act authorising the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) to issue additional renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) certificates targeting supply of specific renewable transport fuels, including HVO, Tallow Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), Biomethane, and Green Hydrogen used in transport sectors to further incentivise supply.
With regard to challenges associated with the policy of incentivising increased biofuel supply, in particular concerning future availability and meeting EU sustainability requirements, the Department of Transport is establishing working groups, which will include stakeholder representatives, to work through these challenges. For example, used cooking oil (UCO), the main feedstock for HVO, is a limited resource and additional demand for it across many sectors will impact on its cost and may heighten the risk of fuel fraud in global supply chains.
To combat risks such as this the EU has introduced more rigorous verification requirements including an EU database for all biofuel supply. In this regard, my department and the Department of Transport engage with the European Commission on an ongoing basis, including through the working group on sustainability, set up under the European Renewable Energy Directive.
172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to clarify whether at any point over the past ten years the SSL certificates for his Department’s websites expired for a period of time; if so, the reason this occurred; and the duration they remained expired. [33271/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraControls and processes are in place to ensure SSL certificates used remain up to date and active. As a result, this scenario has not occurred in my Department.
173. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to ensure that older people who are at greater risk of fuel poverty and the respiratory illnesses associated with air pollution be prioritised in climate action and climate-mitigation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33322/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnergy efficiency and clean energy upgrades are crucial to addressing the root causes of energy poverty, and may also prove effective interventions to improve cold-related and air quality health impacts. Creating indoor living environments with healthy air temperatures, humidity levels, noise levels, and improved air quality can support good physical and mental health. The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by the end of 2030.
Last year, 4,438 free upgrades were provided to homes at risk of energy poverty through SEAI's warmer homes and warmth and well-being schemes. The Warmth and Well-being Pilot Scheme, an SEAI-administered home improvement scheme targeting people living with chronic respiratory conditions which closed in February 2022, saw 1,300 homes upgraded. Any eligible applications for the scheme received on or after 28 February 2022 were transferred to the Warmer Homes Scheme. The Warmer Homes scheme provides free energy upgrades for homeowners in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including Disability and Carer's Allowances.
Budget 2023 increased the total allocation of the SEAI by 36% up to €480 million. This is the highest ever budget to support the achievement of our retrofit and energy efficiency targets. Of this, over 70% (€337 million) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the Solar PV Scheme, to further support the delivery of the National Retrofit Plan. In the first quarter of 2023, 9,946 government-supported energy upgrades were completed, including 946 fully-funded upgrades for energy-poor homes (up 27% on Q1 of 2022).
Through the implementation of the actions set out in the Climate Action Plan, National Retrofit Plan and the Energy Poverty Action Plan, Government will continue, improve and expand the accessibility and affordability of retrofitting for the medically vulnerable and those in energy poverty.
174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline in tabular form, by county the number of completed retrofits to date since the introduction of the grant schemes; the number of grants drawn down to date; the number of grants applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33353/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February 2022, Government established the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard and establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a seamless and integrated service for homeowners with no visible hand-overs of customer communication or relationships within the home energy upgrade project.
Since its establishment, the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme and the One Stop Shops have seen high levels of demand from homeowners.
The latest data from SEAI shows that there are now 16 One Stop Shops registered and SEAI continue to actively engage with the construction sector with the aim of attracting more companies to register as One-Stop-Shops.
A detailed overview of the SEAI 2022 performance against annual targets on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes can be found in their recently published quarterly reports, which can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/news-and-media/home-energy-upgrades-2022/ and www.seai.ie/news-and-media/home-energy-upgrades-2023/ .
Data from these SEAI reports show that across 2022 & Quarter 1, 2023 the National Home Energy upgrade Scheme has:
• Received over 2,200 applications for Home Energy Assessments;
• Received over 1,600 applications for Home Energy Upgrade Works;
• Completed almost 900 property upgrades (this includes a number of upgrades completed in 2022 as part of the close out of the OSS Development Call 2021).
A county-by-county breakdown is not routinely reported by SEAI to the Department.
175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to clarify whether at any point over the past the SSL certificates for his Department’s websites expired for a period of time; if so, the reason this occurred; and the duration they remained expired. [33268/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy is probably aware most Departments, including my own Department, now host their websites within the gov.ie domain which is managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). I have been informed by OGCIO that since gov.ie went live in 2019 there have been no occasions where the SSL certificates associated with my Department's websites have expired without renewal.
In the preceding years there is no record of any instances where certificates for my Department’s websites had expired.
The Department also has a website for Civil Defence, for which there is also no record of certificates having expired.
My Department and the OGCIO act immediately when alerted to upcoming expiry dates for its SSL certificates and renew them well in advance of the date.
176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if a bus will stop at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33226/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and bus shelters.
Noting their responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the most recent cost to the State to buy out the operator of the M1 toll at Gormanstown; the number of years left to run in the contract and, separately, to buyout the Drogheda interchange ramp tolls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33227/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding national roads, including toll roads are within the remit of TII. More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended).
With regard to the payment mechanism associated with toll operations, it is a contractual obligation which incorporates a traffic guarantee mechanism. Therefore, the contracts for the privately-operated toll schemes are commercial agreements between TII and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concessionaires concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport to clarify whether at any point over the past ten years the SSL certificates for his Department’s websites expired for a period of time; if so, the reason this occurred; and the duration they remained expired. [33282/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the past ten years, certificates used on websites within my department have been tracked and renewed in a timely manner to ensure they have valid SSL certs in place at all times.
179. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when he will meet with the Shannon Airport Authority to discuss plans to improve public transport access to Shannon Airport, Ireland’s greenest airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33285/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for this question.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply, in relation to future plans for public transport service provision to Shannon Airport. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33317/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test Service. This includes test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases. I believe that the RSA operates a fair and transparent appointment scheduling process such that those who are eligible and have been waiting the longest are offered a test first, while those who fulfil the criteria for being a frontline worker can apply for a emergency test. Full details are available on the RSA website at: Driver testing FAQs from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
181. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the reason student tickets are not accepted on the 323 Bus Éireann route. [33346/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised by the deputy in relation to the reason student tickets are not accepted on the 323 Bus Éireann route is an operational matter for Bus Éireann.I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
182. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driving test that have been waiting two months, four months, six months and one year; and the steps he is taking to reduce waiting times and clear the backlog (details supplied). [33358/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
On the matter of the steps being taken to reduce driving test waiting times I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the Authority on addressing driver testing waiting times, which is an issue of great concern across the state. The service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which is up 28% on 2021 figures.
The RSA has reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service to meet demand and following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers.
It is expected that once these additional driver testers are recruited, trained, and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will start to reduce from October 2023 and agreed service levels should resume by early to mid-2024. The additional testers will be assigned to fill current vacancies and otherwise allocated to centres with the highest demand for tests. The recruitment process by the RSA is currently well under way.
183. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if work will be carried out on the proposed new N22 Farranfore to Killarney route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33399/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.
The Government has earmarked €5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. As the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, this means that there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year.
Approximately €491m of exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2023. These allocations were announced by the Department of Transport and TII on the 16th of February 2023.
Having regard to the funding constraint outlined above, it was not possible to provide an allocation to all new national road projects in the NDP for 2023. However, the majority of projects have been allocated funding, including the N22 which received an allocation of €100,000.
As with all national roads projects included in the NDP, the delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for 2024 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.
184. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the reason Transport for Ireland branding logos are displayed solely in English on buses and other forms of public transport throughout Ireland; what engagement he has had with Transport for Ireland regarding the development of branding in Irish, particularly in light of the official aims of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language; the status of the rollout of branding in Irish on Transport for Ireland’s services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33401/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The Transport for Ireland (TFI) brand was established by the National Transport Authority to promote and integrate public transport services nationwide. As such, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to the rollout of branding in Irish on TFI services, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
185. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department facilitate persons seeking to access their services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33402/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Transport is committed to providing access to its services in Irish.
The Department of Transport provides several services directly to the public, including the collection of motor tax and the processing of applications for, and granting of, road transport operator licences.
Anyone who wishes to avail of the department's services through Irish can do so. Our websites are in both Irish and English, including www.motortax.ie / www.motarchain.ie, and www.rtol.ie / www.rtol.ie/rtol-online/?lang=ie. In addition, the department provides physical hard copies of forms in Irish and provides on-going phone and written customer service support in Irish.
The department also published simultaneously in both Irish and English its annual reports, Statement of Strategy and other publications in accordance with our Irish Language Scheme and our Customer Service Charter. To date in 2023, the department has, for example, published in Irish and English information on the Irish Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics 2021, the notice published under section 39A Railway Order of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report for proposed railway works Dart+ SouthWest, and the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy: Executive Summary 2022-2025 and its supporting Infrastructure Strategy and Implementation Plan.
The department also works to ensure that its social media content includes material in the Irish language. In line with the advertising obligations which commenced at the start of this year, the department is also actively working to ensure that consideration is given to the Irish Language including advertising and social media content, and to explore whether opportunities exist for further delivery of bilingual communications.
With respect to the agencies under the aegis of the department, I have referred your question to the agencies for a direct reply. Please advise my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
186. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if there are any planned capital works to be carried out on the rail network in County Clare over the summer and autumn period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33409/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) is the framework through which Exchequer investment is made in the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure. This includes the rail line between Limerick and Athenry, which runs through County Clare.
This is the fourth year of the current five-year IMMAC programme from 2020 to 2024. Over the five years of the programme, a total of over €1.3billion in Exchequer funding will be made available to support delivery of protection and renewal works by Iarnród Éireann. This funding will increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services across the network.
In view of the Infrastructure Manager's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
187. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that insurance companies are using the issue of the differential price walking as set out by the Central Bank as a reason to increase insurance premiums for car insurance and house insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33213/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, it is important to note that neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter which individual companies assess on a case-by-case basis. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive).
In July 2022, the Central Bank introduced Regulations to ban price walking in the motor and home insurance markets for personal consumers. This ban means that insurance undertakings and insurance intermediaries cannot charge consumers, who are on their second or subsequent renewal, a premium higher than they would charge an equivalent year one renewal consumer. Therefore, consumers who remain with the same provider will no longer pay a “loyalty penalty”.
In addition, the Regulations allow insurance providers to continue to provide discounts for new customers, giving consumers the opportunity to avail of a better-priced premium by switching provider, if they are not satisfied with the existing provider. The Government believes the approach taken by the Central Bank is appropriate, proportionate and well-suited to the Irish insurance market.
However, the price walking ban does not mean that insurance prices cannot rise, as they are affected by many factors. For example, in the case of home insurance, I understand that a key driver is the property rebuild cost (or reinstatement value), which is based on the total cost to reconstruct the property. As the Deputy will be aware, construction costs are subject to inflationary pressures at the moment.
Indeed, the Central Bank has said that an insurance premium could increase without being price walked. According to the Bank, “customers’ premiums may still vary from year to year for other reasons, including, for example, a change in their risk profile as a result of having made a claim or a change in an insurer’s rates charged for the same risk”. It is therefore important for policyholders to compare with other providers to ascertain if they can get a better consumer-focused deal by switching.
Nevertheless, the Government supports the price walking ban and is determined that it will work for consumers. That is why the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 includes a requirement on the Central Bank to provide a report to the Minister for Finance setting out its views on whether further action is required in this area.
I understand that the Central Bank continues to engage with insurance providers to ensure oversight of pricing practices, and is gathering further data to help monitor the impact of the Regulations and to ensure that firms are delivering fair outcomes. As set out in the 2022 Act, a report will be submitted within 6 months of the first anniversary of the commencement of the Regulations – in other words, by January 2024. The Government is willing to consider further intervention if deemed necessary by this report, in order to continue to protect consumers.
188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he can confirm whether he has received the pre-Budget 2024 submission from an organisation (details supplied); if the submission is receiving due consideration given the organisation’s vital role within our communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33222/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn advance of the Budget, as Minister for Finance I receive a large number of pre-budget submissions on a wide range of issues. All submissions are acknowledged by my Department on receipt.
I can confirm the pre-Budget submission to which the Deputy refers was received Thursday 29 June and acknowledged on Friday 30 June.
The contents will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget and the Deputy will be aware that it is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment, in advance of the Budget, on any matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.
189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance to clarify whether at any point over the past ten years the SSL certificates for his Department’s websites expired for a period of time; if so, the reason this occurred; and the duration they remained expired. [33272/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the deputy that most Departments, including my own Department, now host their websites within the gov.ie domain. Since gov.ie went live on the 17th of January 2019 and in preceding years there have been no occasions where the SSL certificates associated with my Department's website have expired without renewal.
My Department acts immediately when alerted to an upcoming expiry date for its SSL certificates and renews them well in advance of this date.
190. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance his views on the impact of the introduction of the concrete levy on the cost of house building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33202/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, following a Government decision taken in November 2021 that a levy be imposed on the construction sector to contribute towards the cost of the Mica Redress Scheme, the Defective Concrete Products Levy was announced as part of Budget 2023.
The levy will apply at a rate of 5% and it will come into effect on 1 September 2023. The levy will only apply to pouring concrete and concrete blocks under two harmonised EU standards. The levy will be charged at the point of first supply in the State, so ensuring that all liable concrete and concrete products manufactured and/or used here will be liable to the new levy. The Revenue Commissioners will be responsible for its operation and have the full suite of enforcement measures at their disposal to ensure compliance with the levy.
The legislative basis for the DCPL is set out in section 99 of Finance Act 2022 (No.44 of 2022) (Finance Act 2022, Section 99 (irishstatutebook.ie).
The design of the levy balances the need to ensure some of the costs of the redress scheme are met from a source other than the Exchequer, while limiting the impact on inflation in the construction sector. An analysis of the impact of the levy on construction costs been carried out with the assistance of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage late last year estimated that the revised levy will have an impact on costs, with its adding in the order of 0.2% to 0.45% to construction costs depending on the type of project being undertaken.
It is essential that the entire cost of the redress scheme, which arises from the use of defective concrete blocks and other concrete products, is not borne in full by the Exchequer, and through it the Irish taxpayer. The cost of the scheme, or at least the portion of it represented by the revenue that is expected to arise from this levy, must be borne by the construction sector.
Once in effect, the Levy's subsequent impact will of course be monitored.
